Other supporters included superintendents from Lee, Sumter, Escambia and St. Lucie Counties.
Republican State Rep. Mike Fasano of New Port Richey sent a letter of his own to Scott on Friday making a similar request.

“While this no doubt will be an expensive proposition, no price tag can be placed on the lives of the precious children our public schools are entrusted with,” Fasano wrote.

The prospect of adding armed guards at public schools drew national attention, as it was broached by National Rifle Association Vice President Wayne LaPierre at a press conference in Washington.

<em>The Washington Post reports that with armed guards already present on a third of the nation’s campuses, the cost of LaPierre’s proposal could exceed $2.5 billion nationwide.

The expansion would not be as dramatic in Florida school districts where resource officers are already present at middle and high schools.

Maddox said he supports Pons’ effort to secure state funding for school resource officers, but until it can be implemented he wants Tallahassee police officers to increase patrols at elementary schools within city limits.

“I just think it could reassure parents, teachers and children during this time of national crisis,” Maddox said. “It would certainly serve as a deterrent.”

As for the cost, he said he has asked the Tallahassee Police Department to analyze the proposal. He said it could likely be achieved within the city’s existing budget.